Tom Glass's Relocated & Restored Revolutionary War Gem

In an age obsessed concerned with restorations and reclaimed materials, it always surprises me that there are still beautiful old abandoned houses to be found in the mid-Atlantic. But Tom Glass, a DC area builder, discovered a gem in rural Virginia, which he lovingly brought back to life while preserving centuries worth of patinas.

According to Chesapeake Home, the house was built in 1797 by an officer in the Revolutionary War named Robert Kelso, but had been abandoned since the 1930s. A testament to the quality of the original materials, the abandoned home had "every piece of woodwork still intact" when Glass discovered it many decades later.

After discovering and purchasing the abandoned home, Glass moved it to his property four hours away, where he worked with his team and a local architect to reconstruct the home while also including amenities like air conditioning and modern plumbing. The rebuild took 21 months, and the result is stunning. Old woodwork takes center-stage that is complimented, rather than overshadowed by, modern lighting, art, and clean-lined furnishings.